Texas leads nation in turkey-frying fires

By Jose D. Enriquez III

Updated 3:53 pm, Monday, November 25, 2013

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Fireman Matt Kiser, left, steps in to turn off the propane tank while Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Fireman Matt Kiser, left, steps in to turn off the propane tank while Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 3 of 15

The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 4 of 15

Firemen Matt Kiser, left, and Andy Brown watch as oil overflows and flares up Friday afternoon. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Firemen Matt Kiser, left, and Andy Brown watch as oil overflows and flares up Friday afternoon. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 5 of 15

Firemen Matt Kiser, left, and Andy Brown watch as oil overflows and flares up Friday afternoon. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Firemen Matt Kiser, left, and Andy Brown watch as oil overflows and flares up Friday afternoon. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 6 of 15

Firemen Matt Kiser, left, and Andy Brown watch as oil overflows and flares up Friday afternoon. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Firemen Matt Kiser, left, and Andy Brown watch as oil overflows and flares up Friday afternoon. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 7 of 15

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 8 of 15

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 9 of 15

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 10 of 15

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 11 of 15

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Fireman Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 12 of 15

Fireman Matt Kiser, left, steps in to turn off the propane tank while Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Fireman Matt Kiser, left, steps in to turn off the propane tank while Andy Brown drops a frozen turkey into an overfilled pot of oil as it spills over and catches fire Friday morning. The Beaumont Fire ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 13 of 15

When frying a turkey, oil should not be heated above 400 degrees Fahrenheit and the pot should not be overfilled. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

When frying a turkey, oil should not be heated above 400 degrees Fahrenheit and the pot should not be overfilled. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

Image 14 of 15

When frying a turkey, oil should not be heated above 400 degrees Fahrenheit and the pot should not be overfilled. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their training facility Friday morning. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for turkey frying incidents.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

When frying a turkey, oil should not be heated above 400 degrees Fahrenheit and the pot should not be overfilled. The Beaumont Fire Department demonstrated the dangers of improperly frying a turkey at their ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Texas leads nation in turkey-frying fires

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Beaumont firefighters stood around a boiling pot of oil, waiting for the temperature to rise to 350 degrees. They had gathered for a demonstration of the potential danger of frying a turkey that is not entirely thawed.

They stood a few feet away and lowered the turkey into the pot, and the highly combustible oil began to crackle and pop as it bubbled over and mixed with water.

1...2...3...

Boom.

That's all it took. One spark wrapped its fiery fingers around the fryer and shot a cyclonic flame more than 10 feet into the air. And that's what happens in a controlled environment.

Now picture the same scene with plenty of people, distractions and holiday cheer and you can understand how for two years in a row, Texas has led the nation in fried turkey-related fires.

A State Farm survey of claims reveals that more cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving Day than any other day in the year. November is the No. 1 month for grease- and cooking-related fires, with December coming in next.

Oil that's too hot or a turkey that's still partially frozen are two of the main causes of a turkey-fried fire.

"It must be done outside," he said of the frying. "The turkey must be completely thawed, because water and hot grease don't mix."

Patti Kelly, State Farm spokeswoman in Texas, said the main thing is to watch it carefully. There are number of things that can go wrong if you're not paying attention.

Holiday antics can play a role. Whether drunken behavior is a factor is unknown.

"It's not part of pulling data, and I'm not sure if it would be completed," Kelly said. "Given it's Thanksgiving with family and friends over, there's certainly a lot going on between football and kids running around, probably alcohol, too."

White said cooking and drinking is usually a dangerous combination, and people cooking should avoid it.

Average costs of home repairs vary, Kelly said, because homeowners have different plans and it happens in different kinds of structures.

Once, however, a flame is in full swing, residents should contact the fire department immediately instead of taking it into their own hands. They should know, Kelly said, they can't use water to put the fire out. That will only make it worse.

If the fire is small, a household fire extinguisher or suffocating blanket could help.

Brad Penisson, also a Beaumont Fire Department captain, said if you can safely turn off the propane tank, you should.

Cookers should also wear proper clothing like pants and gloves, and always make sure children are kept at a safe distance.

A fried turkey is a delicious turkey, and for those who don't want to risk a fire, White said, there are electric and oil-less turkey fryers that close and latch shut.

"It's a whole lot safer," he said. "The drawback is that it's electricity, and some people might not have proper outlets or breakers to handle it."